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knockabout

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adjective knock·about \ ˈnäk-ə-ˌbau̇t \

Definition of knockabout

1 :suitable for rough use
  • knockabout clothing
2 a :being noisy and rough :boisterous
  • knockabout games
b :characterized by boisterous antics and often extravagant burlesque
  • knockabout comedy
3 of a sailing vessel :having a simplified rig marked by absence of bowsprit and topmast
  • a knockabout sloop
—

knockabout

noun

See knockabout defined for English-language learners

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Examples of knockabout in a Sentence

  1. He lived a knockabout life in the city.

  2. a knockabout game of football in the mud

Recent Examples of knockabout from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'knockabout.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of knockabout

1880

knockabout Synonyms

Synonyms
hell-raising, boisterous, rambunctious, raucous, robustious, roisterous, rollicking, rowdy, rumbustious [chiefly British]
Antonyms
orderly
Related Words
callithumpian, carnival, carnivalesque, larrikin [chiefly Australian], raffish, rampageous, raucous, riotous, rowdyish, ruffianly; stormy, tempestuous, turbulent, violent; headstrong, intractable, obstreperous, recalcitrant, uncontrollable, uncontrolled, undisciplined, ungovernable, uninhibited, unmanageable, unreserved, unrestrained, unruly, wild, willful (or wilful); bubbly, buoyant, effervescent, exuberant, high-spirited, impassioned, lively, sprightly, vivacious; clamorous, loudmouthed, noisy, openmouthed, rackety, strident, vociferous; howling, screaming, yelling
Near Antonyms
sedate, sober, solemn, somber (or sombre), staid; decorous, dignified, proper, seemly; calm, hushed, noiseless, peaceful, placid, quiet, restrained, serene, silent, soundless, tranquil; collected, composed, constrained, controlled, imperturbable, inhibited, repressed, self-controlled, unflappable, unruffled; moderate, reasonable, subdued, temperate; impassive, phlegmatic, stoic (or stoical), stolid; depressed; aloof, detached, indifferent

KNOCKABOUT Defined for English Language Learners

knockabout

play
adjective

Definition of knockabout for English Language Learners

  • : noisy or rough often in a silly or amusing way

Learn More about knockabout

  1. See words that rhyme with knockabout Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for knockabout

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Examples: knockabout in a Sentence